Any fair assessment of the news reports today would demonstrate we are globally in a mess. It seems we are being threatened on every side of life – with voices all around saying: “ We are leading to an economic meltdown either through inflation or deflation!” “Our businesses are threatened with an increase in cyber attacks for which there is no shield”; “Our personal information has been stolen”; “Our cities are unsafe from the influx of drugs and human traffic”; “Now, threats of rampant disease”; “Earthquakes are happening in unexpected places with unusual frequency!”; “Natural disasters are overtaxing our resources”; “Another credible global terrorist threat?” Where is the safety in the midst of this turbulence?

Today news headlines are all about the situation in the Ukraine with Russian troops invading the sovereign nation, which includes the Crimean Peninsula. This region of the globe has been no stranger to chaos historically. And, then there is Syria, as well as the violence at the borders between Palestine and Israel. The situations are endless. Some people are glued to the TV for the news of such events, while others are yawning saying what else is new? Whether your view is brutal reality or comfortable denial, the situation is the same – our world is in chaos. So what does Christ say about this?

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)

"Facing spiritual battles without the certainty of your own salvation is as foolish as fighting a physical battle without a helmet. God has given us the helmet of salvation to guard our minds from doubt and to give us confidence in every spiritual battle. Consider several times that the word “save” is mentioned in the New Testament: 1] We have been saved from perishing (John 3:16); 2] We have been saved from a perverse generation (Acts 2:40); 3] We have been saved from God’s wrath (Rom. 5:9); 4] We have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:5-8); 5] We have been saved according to His purpose not our works (II Tim. 1:9); 6] We have been saved according to his mercy (Titus 3:5)." (Andy Rupert)

'And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.' (John 16:8)

"Why are there so many disbelievers? I believe the answer lies in three principle areas: 1] Lack of knowledge; 2] A cultural world-view; 3] Acceptance of sin by our peers...'Sin, righteousness and judgment.' Two centuries have passed since Jesus spoke those words, but they remain as true today as they did then. Society may laugh them off, ignore them, or think they applied only to those of Jesus’ time. But the day is coming when far too many will wish they had paid attention." (Chaplain Grant Wolf)

Lord, as believers in Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we come to you today to Pray4America on our knees with all humility acknowledging that we in ourselves have no strength, wisdom or empowerment to carry your banner of righteousness without the indwelling of your Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4)

In the President’s plan to reduce gun violence the statistics related to school risk and emergency planning mirror the same needs as those of houses of worship.

“A 2010 survey found that while 84 percent of public schools had a written response plan in the event of a shooting, only 52 percent had drilled their students on the plan in the past year. We must ensure that every school has a high-quality plan in place and that students and staff are prepared to follow it.”

In May of this year DHS will work intentionally to address this sobering statistic for schools and houses of worship. The Department of Education, Justice, Health and Human Services will be releasing model, high-quality emergency management plans for schools, houses of worship, and institutions of higher education, along with best practices for developing these plans and training students and staff to follow them. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Department of Justice, will assist interested schools, houses of worship, and institutions of higher education in completing their own security assessments.